Chena Hot Springs Resort

Location: 56.5 Chena Hot Springs Rd, Chena Hot Springs, us

Star Rating: 7.5 Stars

Property Type: Hotels

About this Property

Important Information

Policies

Check-in: 04:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Swimming pool
• Restaurant
• Family rooms
• Luggage storage
• Tour desk
• Facilities for disabled guests
• Hot tub/Jacuzzi
• Massage services
• Board games/puzzles
• Shuttle service (additional charge)
• Heated pool
• Salt-water pool
• Paid WiFi
• Shallow end
• Fence around pool
• ATM/banking
• Front desk (limited hours)
• Access to nearby indoor pool
• Self parking (surcharge)
• Offsite parking discounted rates available
• Internet access
• Housekeeping on request
• Private picnics
• Reception hall
• Exercise/lap pool
• Japanese garden
• Secured parking
• Health or beauty spa nearby
• Swimming nearby
• Bicycle-friendly property
• Charcoal grill
• Pool toys
• Accessible shuttle
• No accessible shuttle
• Accessible train station shuttle
• No accessible train station shuttle

Rooms Available

• Family Suite

  2 Twin Beds and 2 Queen Beds

  Layout - 2 bedrooms

  Internet - Free WiFi 25+ Mbps

  Entertainment - 40-inch flat-screen TV with satellite channels

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Cribs (free) available on request

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping, heating, and ceiling fan

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request, toothbrush and toothpaste not available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 6 (6 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Satellite channels
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • Free cribs/infant beds
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

• Room, 2 Queen Beds (Moose Lodge)

  2 Queen Beds

  300 sq feet

  
  

  Internet - Free WiFi 25+ Mbps

  Entertainment - 40-inch flat-screen TV with satellite channels

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower/tub combination, a hair dryer, and towels

  Practical - Free local calls, laptop workspace, and desk chair

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping, heating, and ceiling fan

  Accessibility - Wheelchair-width doorways

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request, no cribs (infant beds) available, toothbrush and toothpaste not available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Hair dryer
  • Desk
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Satellite channels
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Free Local calls
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • No cribs (infant beds)
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Laptop-friendly workspace
  • Wheelchair-width doorways
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available
  • Desk chair

• Room, 2 Double Beds

  2 Double Beds

  Internet - Free WiFi 25+ Mbps

  Entertainment - 40-inch flat-screen TV with satellite channels

  Food & Drink - Coffee/tea maker

  Sleep - Bed sheets

  Bathroom - Private bathroom, shower, a hair dryer, and towels

  Comfort - Daily housekeeping, heating, and ceiling fan

  Need to Know - Housekeeping on request, no cribs (infant beds) available, toothbrush and toothpaste not available

  Non-Smoking

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Satellite channels
  • Toilet paper
  • Shampoo
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ceiling fan
  • Free WiFi
  • No cribs (infant beds)
  • Bedsheets provided
  • Soap
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste available
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste not available

• Fox Rooms - 2 Double Beds

  This double room features a tea and coffee maker, heating and a flat-screen TV. The unit offers 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Heating
  • Alarm clock
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Toilet paper
  • Smoke alarm

• Bear Family Suite with Balcony

  The spacious family room offers a tea and coffee maker, heating and a balcony. The unit has 4 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 6 (6 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Hair dryer
  • Desk
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Heating
  • Alarm clock
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Toilet paper
  • Smoke alarm

• Moose Lodge - Two Queen Beds

  Featuring free toiletries, this quadruple room includes a private bathroom with a bath, a shower and a hairdryer. The quadruple room features a tea and coffee maker, a wardrobe, a carpeted floor, a flat-screen TV, as well as mountain views. The unit has 2 beds.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • TV
  • Telephone
  • Hair dryer
  • Desk
  • DVD player
  • Fan
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Alarm clock
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Linen
  • Upper floors accessible by stairs only
  • Clothes rack
  • Toilet paper
  • Board games/puzzles
  • Pool towels
  • Smoke alarm

Guest Reviews

• Raphael (9/5): Excepcional - Diria que é indispensável ficar alguns dias no Resort ao visitar Fairbanks. Foi um dos pontos altos da viagem. Talvez uma reforma nos quartos seja necessária para melhorar o custo-benefício. Mas de fato o que falta é um frigobar e um microondas.
• Raphael (9/5): -
• Sally (10/5): Beautiful snowy day in a hot Springs in Alaska - I liked their location. I liked the hot springs I like the hot tubs. I also really enjoyed the restaurant and gift shops. Some of the wait staff and clerks in the coffee store were not very polite.
• dragonchica (8/5): Northern lights and hot springs - My family and I spent 4 nights at Chena Hot Springs. We come from an area that doesn't experience all the seasons so seeing snow is a real treat. The hotel is an hour away from Fairbanks and with their spotty wifi and no cell service you're pretty much forced to use their shuttle, which cost $90/person, one way. The area was absolutely beautiful. We stayed in the Bear Family Suite. It was nice and spacious. There was a microwave, sizable fridge, large dresser, open-air closet, TV, and table. Beds were comfortable and extra blankets were provided. Shower was super small and didn't work right away. We had to have someone come and fix it and even then it wasn't the best. Showering at the pool was way better. The room is heated through their geothermal system so the controls on the wall are merely decoration. We weren't informed of this at check-in so spent our first night extremely warm. It wasn't until we asked for help with controlling the heat that they gave us this tidbit and recommended leaving windows open to cool down the room. All the staff we interacted were super friendly and helpful. The surrounding area was beautiful, which made for pleasant hikes. Wifi is spotty so bring things to stay busy. Their main restaurant is crazy expensive. We eventually switched to their cafe, which had Costco products sold individually. They also had some soups, salads, and sandwiches that came from the restaurant but in smaller portions and more affordable. Their clam chowder was delicious and their salads had veggies from their greenhouse. They have frozen pizzas that they'll cook up for you, so that was nice. The hot springs was amazing. It was a bummer that it was adults-only so our teenagers couldn't enjoy it. We understand the reason why but that meant the kids got bored at the indoor pool a lot quicker. We booked their aurora viewing tour. It was such an amazing experience. This was my friend's second time in Alaska looking for the northern lights and she said this was a better experience. We got lucky on the night we went. Overall, we would come back again. The pros outweighed the cons.
• SOJIN (10/5): -
• KK (10/5): - The hot springs were fantastic, and all the staff were very friendly and helpful. I was very lucky to see the aurora, but even if I hadn’t, I’m sure I would have been completely satisfied with the hot springs, the beautiful natural surroundings, and their wonderful hospitality. My reservation made through Booking.com was not recognized, even though I had received a confirmation. It appeared that reservations were managed through their own system. Fortunately, they kindly accommodated me as a walk-in guest, and I really appreciated their helpful and friendly service. However, if they had been fully booked that day, I would not have been able to stay. I would recommend ensuring that Booking.com reservations are properly reflected, or alternatively, using only their own reservation system to avoid this kind of issue.
• JoAnna (4/5): - Hot springs were amazing. Shuttle drive was friendly and provided excellent service. They charged me 3 times for 1 night despite me telling them that I already prepaid through booking. No one could figure out how to fix it before check out. Rooms were too hot and could not adjust the thermostat. Paid for the aurora tour. Spent 4 hours watching documentaries about bears. Tour should’ve been canceled because there was no chance of seeing them that night.
• 597wendid (8/5): Amazing stuff to do. Hotel needs updated! - Hot springs were amazing. Restaurant food amazing, we had scallops. Aurora borealis drink amazing. Northern lights tour amazing. So very cool that there is a greenhouse and thermal plant. Ice museum amazing. Appletini yummy. I would like to see the owner invest back into the hotel. Peeling wallpaper in hallways. Microwave and mini fridge would be nice. Restaurant staff was seriously understaffed. We didn't have a problem with room temperature because we like it cool, but others did. 2 gift shops were very nice with large variety of things. Overall amazing resort, but updating would take it over the edge!!!
• X3598FAbarbarab (6/5): three stars for, one against - Except for one staff person, the people were all great! The problem was that I arrived late at night and even though I am somewhat disabled and using a cane, the desk person said no one could help me get my luggage to my room! In addition it was an upstairs room and they have no elevators at all! There was an ice bucket in the room BUT you can only get ice from the main office. They have to open the machine for youl
• Ryco (8/5): Fantastic, challenging experience. - Wonderful experience. Tried it despite several negative reviews and found those to be totally in error. Chena Hot Springs Resort does not have the word "luxury" in their name so we did not expect luxury. The room we occupied was very clean and quite comfortable. The outdoor temperature was 33 deg. below zero when we arrived but heated by the geothermal springs, the room was not the least bit cold. Yes, there is only one restaurant. We were there for five days and ate there every breakfast and dinner. The breakfast meals were cooked as ordered and plentiful. The lunch and dinner menu offering spanned several cultural style dishes from burgers to sushi. They were well prepared, tasty and also plentiful. We found the prices no more costly than prices we pay these days in the lower 48 states. Our days were easily filled by tours of the greenhouses where most of the restaurants produce is grown, exploring the sled dog facility and also excursions by sled dog, wondering at the ice sculptures, learning how the hot springs are used to produce the electricity and heat for the resort, daring to take a dip in the hot springs (the outdoor temp. was 21 deg. below that day!), and especially viewing the magnificent aurora which was occuring the week of our visit. Doing our homework before our vacation went a long way to ensuring we had the adequate attire for the weather so we enjoyed the challenge. What made our stay even more enjoyable were the wonderful employees all of whom had a smile for us every day and did not hesitate to fill any requests we had and made our stay so pleasant.
• 31manelp (2/5): Terrible locker rooms - The hot springs are wonderful, and more in the middle of winter! BUT I just returned to Chena Hot Springs after 18 years, and I'm still outraged by the awful locker rooms!!!! That's the only reason I gave it such a bad rating. Chena Hot Springs has some very nice facilities, like the restaurant and others. So, so difficult is to improve the men's locker room with more space and, above all, with seats to take off your pants and wall hooks for your clothes while you change? So you don't have to leave everything on the wet floor and have to balance while you change? It's unbelievable how little consideration they show. Even the worst gym has better locker rooms. Please IMPROVE THEM as soon as possible!!!!
• 廷萱 (5/5): -
• erinrZ2478CW (4/5): Disappointing visit - Our family of 6 visited Chena Hot Springs last week. The hot springs pool was very unique and enjoyable. The changing room was cramped and crowded and $5 towel rental (on top of paying to get into the springs) was disappointing. We toured the ice castle which again, was unique, but disappointing. We were in a large group of people- squeezed into a waiting area before being allowed inside- and then found it difficult to enjoy the museum because there were too many people inside. We had hoped to eat in the restaurant, but the wait to be seated was over one-and-a-half hours and we had tickets to ride to see the northern lights, so we did not have time. We instead went to the only other option for food, the cafe. There was a good coffee bar but other than that only two salads (total) and frozen pizzas to choose from. The SUSV ride was very bumpy (which was expected). The yurt was completely full; while there were games available to play (as advertised) there was no room to do so. Our chairs were lined up in rows so that we could not talk to each other easily, much less enjoy games in between viewing the lights. The staff was friendly and we appreciated the warm drinks and snacks.
• latishas187 (6/5): March 2026 - The resort definitely lives up to the definition of a “resort” in terms of the activities and experiences offered. Between the hot springs, tours, ice museum, and aurora viewing, there is a lot to do and the setting feels uniquely Alaskan. That said, the facilities themselves feel quite rustic. The rooms and some common areas could benefit from more frequent cleaning and updates. The hot springs pools are amazing but the lockers, restrooms, and floors could also be maintained more regularly to improve cleanliness. After learning more about the property and its geothermal energy projects, I appreciated the unique philosophy and self-sufficient approach behind the resort. It feels less like a luxury resort and more like an experimental community centered around geothermal energy and nature. Overall, I’m glad we visited and had the experience, but travelers should come with the expectation that this is a rustic, adventure-focused resort rather than a polished luxury one.
• mydiamondgirl1999 (8/5): Day Trip for Springs - Took a day trip to the hot springs. It was negative 38 degrees with a bit of wind when arriving. Even with the cold the hot springs still felt good! Very relaxing. Had breakfast in the restaurant. Ice museum was small but nice. Dog kennel had a lot of dogs was interesting to hear the knowledge of the guide. Food was good. Everyone was nice!
• alaskatraveler1234 (2/5): Tourists...Save your money and time. 0 stars if I could...... - Took visiting family out for the experience, against my better judgement. We are familiar with the "resort" as a local resident, so expectations start low. But this visit went below our normal expectations. Staff was rude, unhelpful, and unwilling to help. The heat in the room DID NOT WORK, not just cold, even with the -20 temps. We had to ask for assistance, not 1,2,3,4......but 8 times! Before they assisted into the late hours of the night. Front desk and maintenance were rude and simply did not take the situation serious. Snarky comments from all. Upon checkout, we addressed our concerns and brushed off by the "manager" along with snarky comments. Spoke to the GM's, listened to our concerns, and keep pointing out we already had a "resident discount" so we already being compensated. They continued to point out the discount, as if though we asked for it. They should not offer one if this is how they treat people who use it. Might I add, money was not an issue, we simply wanted resolution, not a refund. Food was less than desirable, and wait staff argued with each other in front of guests. Worst experience ever. Go out for the day, but save yourself the headache and disappointment and do not rent a room. The negative attitudes, disrespect, lack of cleanliness, and overall disregard for anything will have you leaving frustrated and regretful for visiting.
• clop0510 (10/5): Excellent visit! - At first was overwhelmed by all of the activities but we ended up loving it. We did dog sledding and loved learning about mushing. We went to the ice museum which was unique and worth the tour we thought. So different! Hot springs were more YMCA vibes than Blue Lagoon but that was fine with us—we loved it! Make sure to bring quarters for the lockers. We did the aurora tour at night and that was also amazing! The truck you go up the mountain in was super cool! The yurt was warm. Didn’t love watching the documentary on the owner…a documentary on the aurora borealis would be a lot more appropriate and appreciated. All staff were so nice! We stayed overnight and the room is basic but it’s clean and warm and met all our needs. The restaurant is very busy, go early! The food is good but the servers are a bit overworked and it seemed like they were understaffed. But the servers were super nice and made the best of it. We did the shuttles and those were roomy, clean, and prompt. Would definitely recommend if going to Fairbanks!
• csbinkley (8/5): Lovely. - Not "best of times, worst of times" but "best of times, OK of times". Best? Hot springs are the best we've ever been in. Dog sled tour was fabulous--folks there really love their dogs and transmit that love to all who try it out. Trip up the mountain in the SUSV was quite a nice adventure. Alexsie was a great host and we all clapped even though we saw northern twinkles rather than northern lights--no fault of Chena or the staff. Sustainability is an A+: interesting low-temp geothermal power plant and terrific geothermally heated hydroponic greenhouse. Simply FABULOUS greens--who knew you could grow excellent lettuce when the outside temps were -40F (or C, for that matter). Staff are 95% great. My wife slipped on the ice and broke her wrist, but an amiable and well-qualified EMT splinted her within an hour of asking for help (a musher from Louisiana, of all places!) OK? Moose Lodge rooms are a bit tired--the 3-star rating is well-earned. The dining room does not take reservations so sometimes you have to sit for 30 minutes to get a table--it appears that the dining area is not sized for the peak number of guests in the optimal March time frame, which might be a good business decision on their side. We took the train from Anchorage to Fairbanks and flew back from the latter. Train was fabulous. Transfers to and from Chena were flawless. We surely would go back. PS: CHSR is and ESOP, employee owned. Love that. Just like Bob's Red Mill
• Kanako (10/5): -
• tatianacM5929IQ (10/5): Great experience in Alaska Fairbanks - Got me a day pass for the Hot Springs. I drove from Fairbanks it was about 1hr due to a snow storm. Is one road that leads straight to Chena resort. Make sure you bring a bathing suit, towel, beanie, and a plastic bottle of water, and $.50€. We had a great time. Scenery is a Kodak moment. I recommend the hot springs.
• 385waltc (10/5): Bucket list experience! Not disappointed. - Awesome experience! Staff is great, facilities are dated but clean and well kept. Activities are fun for all. Restaurant and bar are top notch. I especially recommend the Aurora experience. The tour guides are a blast! Alexy and Vlads (I hope I didn't butcher those too badly) are the best. Very helpful and knowledgeable. It's obvious they love where they are and what they're doing. They make for a fun and memorable experience. Then there's the hot springs. You won't want to leave!
• Lisar5759 (10/5): Go in winter for a day trip and take the 10pm shuttle back for great aurora viewing. - Hot Springs are lovely, the staff is friendly, the restaurant was tasty, dog sledding was fun and the crowning event was 10pm shuttle back to Fairbanks with Tim! We got to see the Aurora several times, he was very knowledgeable and a great driver/guide.
• Reid (8/5): - I loved the location, and all of the amenities Rooms are a bit dated. But, you're not supposed to be in your room.
• melissai81 (4/5): Do a day pass don’t book a room - This is the second time I’ve been to the hot springs. The first time being 8 years ago just for a day trip to go in the springs. This time I booked a fox room for 2 nights. The price was definitely high for such an outdated basic room. The shower was so small you couldn’t even bend over to shave your legs and then you had to exit the area where the shower and toilet were and walk around a dresser to the doorway where the sink was. Not much in the way of amenities. The only Plus was the free towels when we went in the water. My friend and I saw 2 used condoms around the property and when We went to see the dog kennel there were 2 staff members around and the one kept pushing and yelling at a dog not to jump around. It was uncomfortable to watch so we immediately left and definitely didn’t do the dog mushing. For a day pass this place is good as a natural Gorgeous spring surrounded by rocks and snow. Picture perfect. But I do not recommend staying here. It was not pleasant. The host for the restaurant and bartender were very friendly but we ended up only staying one night instead of two because there’s was going to be no chance of seeing the northern lights with the cloudy night and winter storm. We decided to book a different hotel as this one was not nice at all and we wanted to be more comfortable. Just wish I didn’t waste the $475 to book here.
• Explore38318625205 (10/5): True beauty! - The hots springs at Chena are so incredible beautiful and just breathtaking! Make sure you have your camera charged! You'll want to endlessly take photos of the pure majesty!
• karolinarz (10/5): Bucket List Experience - Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect as the reviews are mixed, but there is something really special about Chena Hot Springs. First, you probably go up there to see the northern lights. Which did not disappoint. But then I really loved how there was so much to do on the property. The hot springs in -30F were a trip. There's dog sledding, an ice museum, cross country skying, ice fishing, I mean the place itself offers you sooo much. The rooms were perfectly fine. I think people might expect 5 stars when it's definitely an older property but we had everything we needed, especially a nice and toasty room after the cold Alaska winter. I loved it and really highly recommend. The staff were amazing. I especially loved the aurora borealis tour. And that the fact that you could go into the hot springs every day while the world around you is frozen is so special. I wouldn't just go on a day trip, I would stay here for 3-4 nights. I did a lot of research on other hotels and things to do in the area and I'm so glad I chose Chena. It was really magical.
• Karolina (10/5): Bucket List Experience - Wow. I wasn't sure what to expect as the reviews are mixed, but there is something really special about Chena Hot Springs. First, you probably go up there to see the northern lights. Which did not disappoint. But then I really loved how there was so much to do on the property. The hot springs in -30F were a trip. There's dog sledding, an ice museum, cross country skying, ice fishing, I mean the place itself offers you sooo much. The rooms were perfectly fine. I think people might expect 5 stars when it's definitely an older property but we had everything we needed, especially a nice and toasty room after the cold Alaska winter. I loved it ! Maybe having more servers at the restaurant to reduce waiting time but honestly we barely had to wait much. Maybe stronger wifi though I get it's very remote.
• 377milenah (8/5): Good but needs a little work - The hot springs was wonderful but there were issues with the tour of the power plant and the restaurant. The tour was not a tour of the power plant, but rather a small dark room with 3D printed items that are for sale in the gift shop. My engineering family was dissapointed. Additionally, the guide forgot parts of his monologue and it was awkward. The restaurant was overwhelmed on a Saturday through no fault of their own, it's just the only option out there. They need a better snack bar or lite meal choice. It was full menu only for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Also unless you got a hamburger or a sandwhich, the entrees were around $35. The Moose Lodge needs a little TLC- the window didn't close all the way because of snow blocking it. We requested a different room but were told maintanence would come and fix it. They never did.
• 崇志 (9/5): -
• Deborah (7/5): Delightful hot springs in beautiful setting, but skip the Ice Museum that isn’t a museum that isn’t a museum - Location- beautiful setting Hot springs were delightful experience! Great tours into their onsite geothermal run greenhouses providing lots of produce for the resort. Also good tour of their geothermal facility powering most of energy needs of the resort. Many miles and signs of wear and tear in the room. Could use updating. Also, the ice museum Is not a museum. Huge tourist trap - basically an ice bar charging $20 just to go into and serving expensive appletinis in ice glasses.
• tvk-flyer (6/5): Don't go unless you are interested in the hot springs! - Pretty disappointing. Expected a great place to see the aurora, but they provided poor support for that activity. Rooms were 80 degrees when we arrived and we were told that could not be changed. The only option was to open the windows - outside temps were subzero! And, we could not open them ourselves, they were frozen shut. Maintenance had to come open them. While the rooms were clean, and reasonably priced, they were also small. Smallest bathroom I have ever seen in a hotel! Advertised as a great place to see the aurora, but they did not provide aurora wakeup calls - a vey common practice in Alaska. And the viewing room was very small, and every time someone cam in the room lit up and I had to readjust to the dark again! The Ice Museum was disappointing - cool sculptures, abut only a few. The tour of the geothermal plant and greenhouse was just OK. The visit to the Sled Dog Kennel was great! The food at the on site restaurant was good - but it was also 80 degrees! Don't go unless you are interested in the hot springs!
• SHIORI (9/5): -
• YAN (8/5): We had a chance to see Aurora there. Therefore the experience there overall is very good. - The restaurant in the resort is the only place for the guests to have meals. On the day we were there, there were not enough waiters to serve people. Therefore, there were a long queue waiting for entering the restaurant. Since the number of guests is known in advance, the resort should arrange enough staff to serve people. The facility in room is a bit old.
• Lauri (8/5): Was a fun stay - Hot springs was relaxing & the ice museum was cool. Price a little high to enter & appletini priced high
• Rushit (8/5): -
• 500MarkS (10/5): A lovely winter’s day out. - The hot springs were a most wonderful experience. Just the perfect temperature for relaxing sore muscles and old bones.well organized and convivial. The ice palace was impressive. One refill of the appletini is enough.
• E7601WVlynnr (10/5): Chena Hot Springs - amazing, beautiful and a must for Fairbanks visitors - My daughter and I visited Chena Hot Springs; what an AMAZING adventure from the artic cold of -30 degrees into the beautifully serene waters of the Springs! If you're in the area, don't miss this opportunity!
• Culture64115504123 (10/5): Thank you Chena STAFF! - My daughter and I have been to Chena Hot Springs 4 times now since we moved here from Seattle 7.5 years ago. This summer the Staff at Chena Hot Springs told us how magical it is in December around Christmas, and the Northern lights viewing we must do. What an EPIC experience 1st Class-not only the viewing, but the STAFF at Chena Hot Springs makes it SPECIAL on every trip, excursion we have ever signed up for. We cant wait to come back--we decided February my daughter and I. Thanks for making extra special memories for a Dad raising his daughter in Alaska. And Bernie Karl-your vision and story, is ingrained into your Team. You are all SPECIAL folks, we cant wait to see you again! Jon and Kaelynn Regis
• Mobile26983706991 (10/5): Enchanting and Relaxing Stay - We spent three amazingly relaxing nights at Chena Hot Springs in the Moose Lodge and have all good things to say about it. Of course, the hot springs is amazing. This is not a luxury spa, but an incredible experience – especially during the -30° weather we had. Highly recommend wearing water shoes to keep comfortable during the walk down the unheated covered walkway and into the spring lake. The dash through the cold air is invigorating and your reward is 106°F steamy water it simply enchanting. The lockers require 2 quarters each time you open them and there is a change machine in the lobby. Meals - The breakfast at the main restaurant was hardy and delicious. For lunch or dinner, absolutely recommend the tomato soup and the salad made from their greenhouse, grown lettuce and tomatoes. Entertainment- even in the super cold weather, provided you are address appropriately, a walk around the property is the perfect winter wonderland experience. You can walk over to the dog kennels and, after you check in at their visitor center, you can pet the dogs that come up to the fence. Highly recommend the geothermal free tour it’s fascinating.
• lindseyleea (2/5): Bratty girls - Girl at the front counter Friday night around 10pm was completely rude to me while I was trying to ask questions & looked at me like I was so stupid and rolled her eyes when I asked where the restroom was. Flew from Utah & Drove 2 hours from our Airbnb to come out here for a cool northern light experience to be treated like we’re stupid. Learn some customer service skills!!
• Rsf0009 (4/5): Ice museum, will not need to do again. - Visited the ice museum and the guide was great but the ice and the ice carver lacked luster. The carver did not speak to anyone, I was hoping for a 2-3 minute talk on what she does and how she does it. also, the carvings were just ok and I really thought there would be more. The lights were so dim, it was difficult to get pictures. Glad we tried it but will not be doing this again, a bit disappointed.
• GrammyShannon (10/5): Great day trip! - We had a great day visit to Chena Hot Springs! We toured the greenhouse/geothermal power plant, toured the ice museum, ate dinner in the lodge, and swam in the hot springs. The tours were really interesting, the food at the lodge was outstanding, and the hot springs were really fun. Definitely worth a day trip up from Faribanks!
• O4919JJstefanied (10/5): Totally relaxing and AMAZING! - We really enjoyed staying at this resort! All the staff was super friendly and the food was amazing! The hot springs and soaking was awesome. I see some reviews are not that happy, and yes the room was a bit dated. However, it was clean and very warm and cozy. This is a rustic place and was very relaxing and quiet! We did the night tour and that was so fun to see the lights and feel so remote. Thank you for a wonderful experience!!!
• H3006WVisabellad (2/5): Do not recommend - On their website in tiny tiny little font it’s says that anyone under 18 is not allowed in the hot springs. The only thing available for our family was to go in the hot tubs which were more like hot baths. The rooms are not very nice and not worth the price they charge you. I would not recommend staying here.
• Passport76657 (10/5): A MUST RESORT FOR NORTHERN LIGHTS AND MORE! - From shuttle pick up at Fairbanks airport, to check in and facilities we could not have been more pleased. We booked this solely for the purpose of seeing the Northern lights. We were picked up for the shuttle by Josh who was just a gem. Check in was a piece of cake. We had a fox room, which was a few steps from the hot springs. Room was warm and adequate. Tap and shower water is from the springs, so do expect the sulfuric smell! We enjoyed the springs three times! Incredible. We booked the Ice Museum and the Northern lights tours. We also did the greenhouse and geothermal tours. The restaurant food is good. Portions are big enough to split. I'm seeing posts here complaining about the prices. You got to realize this is fairly remote area in Alaska where they have to import a lot. So we expected the prices to be a little higher than average and were okay with that ( hydroponic greenhouse side salad with the honey walnut dressing was fabulous!) The staff was kind and attentive. We realize we came right before peak season and as a result the resort was not super full, which I'm sure was to our advantage. The Northern lights tour with Clint, Vlad and Oleg was something we'll remember for the rest of our lives. We were very lucky to get 2 amazing days of the Aurora. In summary just a MAGICAL time. Thank you Chena Hot Springs Resort!
• Culture28601006607 (4/5): Room freezing reported no response - Disappointed too expensive for a motel 6 experience. Terrible front desk. Mediocre restaurant. Our room was freezing and it took 2 days before they responded then the temperature rose to 65 degrees. Totally upset with customer service
• Shrinette (2/5): I don't recommend - I'm still upset how we were handled for the museum by staff and receiving no credit!! Regarding the hot spring ... staff and lockers were bismal.   Only bright thing about visiting the resort was going to the top of the mountain to see the northern lights.
• mcnultypc (10/5): You will love this place! - What a fun time we had! The Moose Lodge was so comfortable, modern and clean. The restaurant was excellent!! Pricey but worth it. The staff couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. The view from the room of the mountains was so lovely and the Hot Springs, Ice Museum and Greenhouse rocked! Highly recommend this hotel.
• gregorypascale (8/5): Highly recommend - We did the ice house tour, it was a fun little tour, about 30 minutes long, Finding your way around the area can be a little confusing, the signs are really outta place. The hot springs were GREAT. Every person that got into the springs was saying the same thing. Oohhhhh. The restaurant was really good. We spent $200 (including tip) on an Alaskan Crab leg dinner, which fed 2 people. There are cheaper options, but. Nonetheless the food was GREAT
• John (8/5): - The hotel looks old. Bathtub has a broken faucet that is terribly hard to turn off. No fridge in the room. The room is clean and they kept windows open whenever they can so the air is fresh inside. Parking is hard to find especially during the weekend.
• 628rustyt (8/5): A Visit to the Chena Hot Springs Resort - Missed Chena Hot Springs during a land tour in summer 2024. Was intrigued by the idea of a hot springs resort in Alaska; so booked 2 day passes. Was blessed with two days of fine autumnal weather in early September. Weather is definitely critical. check forecasts before booking. It is a significant drive to get to and from Fairbanks and the resort. Went in the early afternoon after some sightseeing around Fairbanks in the morning. I found soaking in the outdoor geothermal heated pool as well as the indoor hot tub to be soothing and relaxing. I found the staff to be helpful. I don't have artistic pursuits or hobbies so the Aurora Ice Museum experience wasn't memorable to me. The other thing when my cousin visited the Chena Hot Springs resort they visited a reindeer farm at the insistence of her son. When I checked that affiliation / activity was no longer available. Because I was on vacation and the physical relaxation induced by the hot springs after an active day I rated the experience as good
• M1364ZAannab (6/5): Deeply average - Ice museum tour was a bit boring and overhyped. The kennel tour was interesting but the condition the dogs are living in is concerning. Didn’t see the aurora due to clouds. Everything else was fine (room, staff etc) but nothing to write home about.
• Ana (10/5): - The hot springs are great
• David (6/5): - Walkways need lighting
• Ming Han (6/5): - The property itself was alright. Has limited activities around. Wish there were more regular shuttles to surrounding hiking trails and tk the city.
• Juan (10/5): - The parking area was safe and there was plenty of parking, breakfast was delicious and the facilities well maintain.
• 372DonnaP (10/5): Aurora Viewing is awesome here! - Chena Hot Springs Resort was an amazing experience! We arrived using the shuttle and I appreciated the ride instead of driving up. That’s a long stretch drive. Our driver, Christmas was very knowledgeable and gave us insight into Fairbanks. The resort food was Fabulous!! Definitely enjoy eating the seafood and salads- which are grown onsite. We were there for Aurora viewing and it was everything just to see it! The staff were attentive and made sure everyone got excellent moments. What a life moment. We also went to the Ice Museum and you don’t want to miss that! So much to do here. The rooms were ok.Yes, it’s outdated, but fits the aesthetic of being here to focus on the activities. I would definitely come again for the forever life experience!!
• Richard (8/5): - The highway ends at the Chena Hot Springs Resort. The historic resort has a number of unique "landscaping" items like vintage cars and airplanes, but the key magnet to the resort is the outdoor natural hot springs!
• David (6/5): so much missed potential - I wanted to like this place more. the good was the hot springs, the pool/hot tubs, and the place on the hill to walk up to view the northern lights. every one on the pools was friendly and easy going. the bad, for the money spent to stay here, a place is only as good as it's clients and in 2 minutes of turning my back, a thief took my Fitbit from the changing room. I could ping it in the locker room, so I know it was taken deliberately. i hate thieves. the only things I'd change is putting some serious money into updating the rooms and facilities. also, be prepared as every thing outside of the hot springs is a la carte and not cheap..
• Amy (8/5): - We stayed at the moose lodge. The room itselfnis ok, the downfall is the rooms are so hot even with the window open all night and it was in the low to mid 50s ..so the room should have cooled down. The hot springs, hot tub, and pool were nice. There are locker and showers available for use. The viewing area for the northern lights is a good area also. We didnt get much of a show but we did see a little glimpse. Also, while out walking we saw a moose. This is a great area to visit.
• Kathleen (10/5): - Always a wait for meals Had to drive Fairbanks several times because 2 hr wait
• TravelMema (10/5): Relaxing Chena Hot Springs day pass - We drive up from Fairbanks for the day to enjoy the hot springs. We saw moose on the way and it was a lovely drive. We spent a few hours at the resort, including time relaxing in the hot springs. It was a nice day to be outside.
• Denis (8/5): Needs some work and attention to detail - Staff was excellent! Buildings are dated and the heat is almost agregious! The heat in building 102 was so high that even opening a window in 30° weather did little to temper it. The floor of our room was filthy. I understand it's "rustic" these days but the floor hadn't even been swept. There was dirt, leaves, rock and even pull from a previous tennent.
• andrewpP564QI (10/5): Magical moments, amazing experiences - Amazing experiences, staff was friendly and helpful, the setting is incredible, a special shout out to Kimlyn who guided our ATV tour she was wonderful and the tour was adrenaline rush!
• Abegail (6/5): - The hot spring is the main highlight of the resort. We enjoyed the flower garden as well. The rooms were outdated without microwave. They are still using small containers for toiletries which are not eco friendly.
• SCB49 (6/5): Remote - dated, expensive - The location is 1 hr 15 mins on a single road from the airport. The accommodations are considerably overpriced for a plain room with no microwave/small frig and in our case a clock that was inoperable! The restaurant, which is the only one for 20-30 miles, is overpriced and charges extra for any ‘additionals’. The site is cluttered with old machinery/cars/motor equipment which should be recycled/reprocessed with the proceeds reinvested into the facilities or to offset expenses/costs.
• NadiaBear (8/5): Charming spot for a few nights in nature, especially if you love hot springs! - I get the poor ratings of most places in Alaska if you're comparing them to places in the lower 48. We stayed in the lodge for two nights. Honestly, the stay was lovely. The room was mediocre but comfortable. Beds were comfortable. The shower was the worst shower I have ever used in my life, truly. And I didn't really care. Because you go there for the: 1. Northern lights - we didn't see them because it was cloudy and rainy the whole time, but it was exciting checking on it each night! Apparently it's absolutely stunning up here. 2. The HOT SPRINGS - these are so lovely. The environment is natural, calm, beautiful, peaceful. The hot springs are one big pool with different temperatures in different locations that changes by the moment. Having been to all the great hot springs in Colorado and many in California, these were special and highly recommended if you like hot springs. It's an old spot that's been there for at least 100 years and you can tell, but if you care about charming, historic and relaxing over fancy, this is the place for you. 3. Being in nature. We were there while the leaves were turning and wow. Really. An added bonus was visiting with the dog sled dogs, which you can do for free if you just stroll on over there. The restaurant was charming. The food was mediocre for the most part but the veggies were *GREAT*. The simple garden salad was lovely in the simple, great veggies sort of way. Nothing special, just good tasting food. Do the tour of their geothermal greenhouse if you're interested, but they grow all their own veggies. I was shocked at how good they were. (Tip: don't get the crab cakes. They taste like they are frozen and fried. I heard literally everyone, including us, in that dining room order them because we were all hoping they'd be great in Alaska and no.) Their gift shop is cute too. Just don't buy a postcard stamp there. They 5x mark it up, which I'm not sure is actually legal, but not being a legal scholar, I just huffed about it. Hey, it's Alaska.
• Climber801887 (4/5): It's like staying in "Dirty Dancing" employee cabins. "Rustic" is overstated - the place is - As my sister described it, staying at Chena Hot Springs is like staying in "Dirty Dancing" employee cabins. "Rustic" is overstated - the place is not well maintained. Cabins and spa locker rooms were spartan and cringe-worthy - we didn't even bother to get into the outdoor hot spring pool. There was a 1.5-2hr wait for a dinner table. Bus-loads of tourists coming in with no option to leave.Wi-Fi and internet access is practically non-existent as they are "off the grid". They put a lock on the ice machine! Employee morale is low. The photos look great but don't tell the real picture. We booked three nights there and stayed only one. Among Fairbank natives we spoke with later, it's known to be on the skanky side. Instead, we had a wonderful 2 night stay at Pikes Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks which exceeded our expectations.
• DONALD (2/5): - not clean and all rooms need updated, no air conditioner
• GREGG (4/5): - Chena Hot Springs "Resort" is more like a tired motel. We had 4 adults booked in 2 separate rooms. The rooms were OK, but not completely cleaned. The stairs and hallways were dirty. The WORST part was the restaurant. It does not take reservations. The hotel was apparently fully booked. We went to dinner at 7:30 PM and told there would be a 2-1/2 hour wait! The hotel obviously knows how many guests they have and probably a very good idea about dinner guests. After half an hour, exploring their "snack bar", we returned to the restaurant and were able to order take out sandwiches which we had at 9:00 PM. I would not stay at Chena Hot Springs Resort again.
• 480elaineq (4/5): This is a dump—ancient rooms, burned out staff. No temperature control; lousy food; not clean; no Aurora alerts. - There are newer rooms but I stayed in Fox with no temp control—froze one night and heat blasting the next. Noisy at night with all the one day tour buses of people looking for the Aurora or coming back at 2 from hotel’s high priced tour to a higher elevation to wait for Northern Lights that didn’t show. Lousy food and service—chef must have come from McDonald’s. Staff bored or burned out; Elijah led the Geothermal power tour and gave few details and then took his hat off for tips! Just go for the mineral baths and bring your own food.
• Hyung (10/5): - 방도 깨끗하고 온천이 좋았습니다
• Peijuan (4/5): - resort restaurant as well other facilities needs update
• Kim (10/5): - The activities are all on site. Hotel guest gets fees access to the hot spring but it would be nice to get free access to the locker too.
• Yuh (8/5): -
• Connie (6/5): - Rustic, gave sense of camping. Didnt like that the hotel crew seemed overwhelmed. We were given room tgat had nit been cleaned from previous users. Was promised a 60$ per night x 3night discount for inconvenience. Didnt get it.
• Bonnie (6/5): - Room was supposed to be ready and it still had dirty sheets and towels from the previous guest. Room temp could not be controlled the room was uncomfortably hot.The restaurant and staff were great
• 381charless (8/5): Recommended but with caveats - This is a unique and beautiful resort, but it has its issues. The rooms are 80 degrees all the time. The thermostats have been disconnected. When I asked how I could lower the temperature, I was told: “Open a window.” There is only one ice machine on this very large property. It is kept under lock and key and you must get the key from the front desk to access it. The front desk staff are uniformly rude, brusque, and dismissive. WiFi is slow and unreliable. There are NO matches or lighters available for purchase anywhere on the property. On the plus side, the food is excellent, as are the drinks. Lisa, in the dining room, is a superhero - courteous, pleasant, efficient, and extremely professional. She was the brightest spot in our stay.
• LEBANE (10/5): - .
• Ronele (8/5): - The hot springs were great. The Ice Museum was good. Their prices have increased from their website. If dining in the main restaurant, get there early. The line was ridiculously long and expensive! For quick food try the activity center. We did get to see the Northern Lights. And one more thing, the thermostat in your room DOES work!
• annemarij2017 (2/5): Dirty and gross with rude staff - We stayed in the lodge. The place is filthy, run down and gross. So sad we wasted a full day/night here. I couldn’t bring myself to get into the Hot Springs here as the facilities were disgusting. The staff is super rude, especially the “hostess” at the restaurant. Heather was nice- but that was it. . Can’t believe anybody actually likes this place. The grounds are expansive and not well cared for – fences falling down, Porta potties everywhere, weeds, dirt, and general sense of abandonment. Tacky, sad, dusty Xmas decor is everywhere- it’s Sept….In the big communal areas there are places for large fires, but they don’t light them for the guest enjoyment. Instead, as a guest, you must purchase a $25 small bundle of wood to create your own ambience. They nickel and dime you and it’s really not worth a penny. Stay away…
• BruceZ-USA (2/5): This is NOT a Resort - Calling this place a “resort” feels like a stretch. While the location and the hot springs are the main draw, the property itself is tired and in need of some serious capital improvement money. The good part is - the hot springs are fantastic. The sky views are great. If you’re going for those two things, it’s a great place. But ... Our room in the Moose Lodge was clean but outdated, with no fridge and no fan in the bathroom, which led to visible bath ceiling issues. The Moose lodge common areas were in need of serious updates. The common area carpet is worn, the entry rug was filthy and the steel grating at the front entrance is a luggage wheel trap. They said they are on their own grid but they could certainly have fridges on hand for those who request them. The internet - circa 1999 - with 0.03 Mbps upload and download speeds are inexcusably unacceptable in this day and age. Grid power has nothing to do with upload and download speeds - even on what they said was Starlink. See the Starlink site for typical speeds in Alaska. Christmas decorations were up in early September - maybe it’s Christmas year-round there. The room keys have the hotel name and room number printed on old-style plastic triangular fob that were typical in drive-up motels in the 60s & 70s. That doesn’t inspire confidence in terms of security. When we arrived late, we ordered takeout from the dining room. Very disappointing. Prices are resort-level, but the food quality isn’t. The salmon sandwich looked and tasted more like canned lunch meat, and the chicken sandwich wasn’t much better. Two sandwiches, tonic and lime and tip were about $50. Guests should expect more than cafeteria-style fare. We went to dinner in Fairbanks the following night at The Pump House Restaurant & Saloon - a huge step-up from the previous night with similar prices. IMO, they may want to put their capital expense dollars into much-needed upgrades to truly call this place a resort.
• James (8/5): - Liked the Ice Museum and restaurant. Rooms were clean but the bed mattresses need replacement. Hot Spring, pool, and hot tubs were well maintained but the men's locker room lacks adequate seating for amputees. The Activity Center had good selections but needs some new seating and tables to encourage family gatherings.
• Ott (7/5): Stay with mediocre I wouldn’t go back. - All of the staff was doing their best, considering the lack of help. I think the best thing was the outdoor hot tub. They had a staff shortage, which caused some delays, but was tolerable. I was on the lower floor and you had to keep the window open because of the heat of the room. Employees were working and running the small golf cart up and down until 11 o’clock at night and then starting early in the morning. One day I was in my room and they were leaf blowing up outside my window for a good hour. It would be nice if they had a swimsuit dryer one of the things that you put your swimsuit in and it spins it. Bringing only one suit it was uncomfortable to go more than once a day. It would’ve been nice when you first arrived to receive a map of the trails around. Also a list of activities that they had and the cost. I was directed to go to the activity center for this information. The activity center had a gift store in it small café and several times lines to get the information I was looking for.
• Sonja (4/5): The facility is out of date. - I like the place to see the northern light. I like the hot springs The building is in a poor condition and it is not clean. The room is in a poor condition. It takes long to get food for eating. I didn't feel the welcome attitude from the staff.
• Judy (10/5): - The room was large and very clean. Comfortable beds. Check in was easy and reception was nice and helpful. Hot spring area was clean and just the right temperature. Lots of activities if you were interested but just walking the area was great. The restaurant was very busy so we chose to get sandwiches at the activity center market. Really delicious choices including salads and soup and pizza at reasonable prices. A long drive but a nice experience even though the clouds stopped us from seeing the aurora borealis!
• Timothy (8/5): - Warmer inside pool
• Betty (10/5): Perfect overnight - Nice overnight. Great hot springs & cafe.
• Sougata (2/5): - Horrible property. They don't have ac in the rooms. The heat is always ON. Apparently geo thermal ..nobody informed us..the room was like a sauna.. never ever staying here
• ALEKSANDAR (10/5): - Great stay, clean rooms, great hit spring pool area, great dining
• Jennefer Turner (7/5): Apart from hot pool and ice museum caters for adventure seekers - The resort caters for outdoor adventure. Liked the hot pool and ice museum was great. Watching the ice artist was very interesting Availability of meals and food wasn't able to cope with the demand. Limited good fresh food choice at the activity centre. Poor choice of frozen food. No communal oven for heating, or sandwich maker to toast supplied sandwiches. Microwave and toasters available but no bread or buns to purchase. Lots of silly snack food.a
• Dmitry (5/5): Complete disappointment in both service and accommodation conditions. - Location We were extremely dissatisfied with the accommodation conditions. The bed linen was old and worn, and the room was full of dust (it was everywhere), which clearly indicated that cleaning had not been carried out for a long time. The toilet seat was broken, and in the door hinge, instead of a proper bolt, there was a sharp screw that damaged our suitcase. The room description on the website did not match the reality. Another major inconvenience was that upon arrival, in heavy rain, we were not allowed to drive up to the cottage to unload our luggage. We were simply given a luggage cart with no offer of assistance, and as a result we had to drag our suitcases over stones and puddles, leaving all our luggage completely soaked. For 200 USD per night, such conditions are absolutely unacceptable. Instead of rest, we experienced only disappointment and stress.
• Katherine (8/5): - Fun area to visit to enjoy the hot springs. Hoping to see the lights but wasn’t meant to be. Restaurant staffing was struggling due to shortage but the ones working were hard working and the food excellent
• Nicole (9/5): - Bequemes Bett, sauber, Pool. Umkleidekabinen beim Pool
• TATSUO (7/5): -
• Fred (10/5): - There's nothkng quite like soaking in the hot springs! Restaurant has good food at reasonable prices for a hotel/lodge. Great experience!
• Anne (8/5): - Amazing hot springs. Restaurant was understaffed. No reservation system, made for long waits.
• Chris Williams (8/5): Great hot pool resort - Outdoor hot pool There was an acute shortage of waiters / waitresses so we could not have lunch. Also the trekking routes from the centre are poorly mapped / signposted
• Matthew (10/5): - All the employees where very friendly and helpful.
• Chiara (6/5): -

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